Congestive heart failure history and symptoms

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Congestive Heart Failure Microchapters
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Overview
Historical Perspective
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Pathophysiology Systolic Dysfunction Diastolic Dysfunction HFpEF HFrEF
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Differentiating Congestive heart failure from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Clinical Assessment
History and Symptoms
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Chest X Ray
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Medical Therapy:
Summary
Acute Pharmacotherapy
Chronic Pharmacotherapy in HFpEF
Chronic Pharmacotherapy in HFrEF Diuretics ACE Inhibitors Angiotensin receptor blockers Aldosterone Antagonists Beta Blockers Ca Channel Blockers Nitrates Hydralazine Positive Inotropics Anticoagulants Angiotensin Receptor-Neprilysin Inhibitor Antiarrhythmic Drugs Nutritional Supplements Hormonal Therapies Drugs to Avoid Drug Interactions Treatment of underlying causes Associated conditions
Exercise Training
Surgical Therapy: Biventricular Pacing or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Implantation of Intracardiac Defibrillator Ultrafiltration Cardiac Surgery Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) Cardiac Transplantation
ACC/AHA Guideline Recommendations Initial and Serial Evaluation of the HF Patient Hospitalized Patient Patients With a Prior MI Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention Surgical/Percutaneous/Transcather Interventional Treatments of HF Patients at high risk for developing heart failure (Stage A) Patients with cardiac structural abnormalities or remodeling who have not developed heart failure symptoms (Stage B) Patients with current or prior symptoms of heart failure (Stage C) Patients with refractory end-stage heart failure (Stage D) Coordinating Care for Patients With Chronic HF Quality Metrics/Performance Measures
Implementation of Practice Guidelines
Congestive heart failure end-of-life considerations
Specific Groups: Special Populations Patients who have concomitant disorders Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Patient with CHF NSTEMI with Heart Failure and Cardiogenic Shock
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

The classic symptoms of heart failure include dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention. Patients with heart failure present in different ways. Some patients present with exercise intolerance but show little evidence of congestion or edema. Other patients present with mild symptoms of edema and pulmonary congestion. The ejection fraction is usually below 35% in patients who are symptomatic with systolic heart failure.

Symptoms

• Ankle edema or swelling of the feet and legs
• Claudication or pain with walking
• Confusion and altered mentation
• Cool extremities or cold and clammy hands
• Cyanosis or bluish color to the skin
• Dizziness
• Dyspnea on ordinary exertion or greater shortness of breath with usual activities
• Fainting
• Fatigue
• Hemoptysis or frothy sputum
• Nocturia or urination during the night
• Nocturnal cough
• Orthopnea or sleeping on pillows
• Palpitations or extra heart beats
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea or awakening at night with shortness of breath
• Shortness of breath
• Syncope or passing out
• Weakness
• Wheezing or cardiac asthma

Symptoms of Left Sided Congestive Heart Failure

The left side pumps blood into the systemic circulation, while the right side pumps blood into the pulmonary circulation. Although left-sided heart failure will reduce forward cardiac output to the systemic circulation, the initial symptoms are often due to pulmonary congestion. In systolic dysfunction, the ejection fraction is decreased, leaving an abnormally elevated volume of blood in the left ventricle. In diastolic dysfunction, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure will be high. This increase in volume or pressure backs up to the left atrium and then into the pulmonary veins. Increased volume or pressure in the pulmonary veins impairs the normal drainage of the alveoli and favors the flow of fluid from the capillaries to the lung parenchyma, causing pulmonary edema. This impairs gas exchange and results in hypoxemia. Thus, left-sided heart failure often presents with respiratory symptoms including:

• Dyspnea
• Frothy sputum
• Nocturnal cough
• Orthopnea
• Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing

New York Heart Association Criteria (NYHA)

The following criteria are often used to gauge the severity of heart failure:

• NYHA I: No symptoms with ordinary activity.

• NYHA II: Slight limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest, but ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea, or angina.

• NYHA III: Marked limitation of physical activity. Comfortable at rest, but less than ordinary physical activity results in fatigue, palpitation, dyspnea, or anginal pain.

• NYHA IV: Unable to carry out any physical activity without discomfort. Symptoms of cardiac insufficiency present at rest.

2009 ACC/AHA Focused Update and 2005 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult (DO NOT EDIT)

Initial Clinical Assessment of Patients Presenting With Heart Failure (DO NOT EDIT)

Class I

"1. A thorough history and physical examination should be obtained/performed in patients presenting with heart failure to identify cardiac and noncardiac disorders or behaviors that might cause or accelerate the development or progression of heart failure. (Level of Evidence: C) "

"2. A careful history of current and past use of alcohol, illicit drugs, current or past standard or alternative therapies, and chemotherapy drugs should be obtained from patients presenting with heart failure. (Level of Evidence: C) "

Serial Clinical Assessment of Patients Presenting With Heart Failure (DO NOT EDIT)

Class I

"1. Careful history of current use of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, alternative therapies, and chemotherapy drugs, as well as diet and sodium intake, should be obtained at each visit of a patient with heart failure. (Level of Evidence: C) "

Vote on and Suggest Revisions to the Current Guidelines

• The CHF Living Guidelines: Vote on current recommendations and suggest revisions to the guidelines

Sources

• The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult

• 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation

References

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